Lucknow's Awadhi cuisine a major draw in Srinagar

Srinagar, May 25 (ANI): Famed Awadhi cuisine from Lucknow city is receiving an overwhelming response during an ongoing food festival here in Jammu and Kashmir's capital city.

Organized by the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) in collaboration with the State department of tourism, the food festival is intended to entice tourists.

According to the organizer and head of the Department of Institute of Hotel Management, Malik Altaf, the objective is to present varieties of food to locals as well as tourists.

"There were two objectives behind organizing this food festival; one was to present a variety of dishes to the local population, and second was to present these dishes to the tourists coming from different parts of the country," said Altaf.

A gamut of ethnic dishes from Lucknow like biryani (a rice dish) and Wazwan (multi-course meal) have been displayed in stalls.

A large number of tourists have participated in the festival and are delighted to taste ethnic dishes from Lucknow city.

"I am feeling very good. This is for the first time that a Lakhnavi food festival has been organized. I have only heard that the Lakhnavi food is very tasty but got to know only after tasting it. The famous Lakhnavi biryani and the Lakhnavi wazwan are also displayed here. This tourism department has taken a very good step," said Tasaduq Vani, a local.

A Sufi concert has also been presented by renowned artists for visitors entertainment.

Awadhi cuisine consists of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and is greatly influenced by Mughal cooking techniques.